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In a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) the supervisor controller plays a central role in co-ordinating the interaction between various manufacturing, transportation and inspection machines. In this paper, certain control rules for the selection of alternative routes, using transport facilities and machine failure are examined. This analysis is based upon computer simulation of the FMC and its interaction with the cell controller, which is also modelled as a separate entity. The parameters used in the models of the FMC and the controller may be altered independently and their effects may be noted prior to the implementation of the control software.

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